Homeowners admitted they follow their heart when it comes to buying a home. More than half made an offer on their current or previous home because they fell in love with it. So, what is the secret to falling in love with a property?
According to a survey by conveyancing provider
My Home Move, location (58%) is the number one reason. Price is ranked second (37%) proof that when it comes to love, we Brits still cherish a bargain. Third most important feature is the garden (29%), a quintessentially British love affair that continues to flourish.
Transport, greenery and local amenities make top three location priorities
When choosing the location of their property, home movers’ favour good transport links as the most important factor (40%). This is followed by having a nearby green area (35%) and being in close proximity to shops, cafes and restaurants (32%).
Location is also the most important factor in putting people off a property
Perhaps homeowners’ great love for the location of their home suggests why 43% also cited location as the biggest ‘turn off,’ causing buyers to reject a property. This was seen as more important than a property being too expensive which drove 40% away, followed by the inside appearance of the property (34%). However the location of friends a family is the least important factor when choosing the location of a property – important to only 9% of buyers.
Love at first sight
However house hunters who let their heart rule their head could end up overspending.
Zoopla questioned more than 1,800 home owners, and one in three (34 per cent) admitted their heart strings are stronger than their purse strings. This led them to spend an average of £16,193 more than they had planned. About 44 per cent of those over-budget buyers said it was love at first sight.
However the course of true love does not run smoothly especially when one person is more besotted with a property than the other. This can lead to quarrels, with one in 12 (8 per cent) couples saying they argued when putting in an offer due to one person being more besotted with a property than the other.
Zoopla spokesman Lawrence Hall: “Buyers need to be careful not to let their hearts take over completely. The key to the process is to do as much research as possible before making an offer and striking a balance between the heart strings and the purse strings.”
Love at first sight
However house hunters who let their heart rule their head could end up overspending. Zoopla questioned more than 1,800 home owners, and one in three (34 per cent) admitted their heart strings are stronger than their purse strings. This led them to spend an average of £16,193 more than they had planned. About 44 per cent of those over-budget buyers said it was love at first sight.
However the course of true love does not run smoothly especially when one person is more besotted with a property than the other. This can lead to quarrels, with one in 12 (8 per cent) couples saying they argued when putting in an offer due to one person being more besotted with a property than the other.
Zoopla spokesman Lawrence Hall: “Buyers need to be careful not to let their hearts take over completely. The key to the process is to do as much research as possible before making an offer and striking a balance between the heart strings and the purse strings.”
